Vacuum packaging apparatus



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United States Patent 3,218,778 VACUUM PACKAGING APPARATUS Stephen T. Moreland, 6719 S. Oglesby Ave., Chicago, Ill. Filed July 6, 1964, Ser. No. 380,551 8 Claims. (Cl. 53-124) This invention relates to the packaging of loose flexible and fibrous material such as cotton lint and fibers in containers and bales, and is more particularly described as vacuum means for baling cotton, although it may have a more general application to fibers of various kinds.

Loose fibers of cotton and other flexible materials are commonly compressed in molds into packages and bales of large sizes. There is little (or inadequate) care or protection from dirt or damage, or in applying retaining ties or straps for holding the mass of materials together. This invention not only improves the package by vacuum drawing of lint and fibers through one end of a sleeve until it is filled, then withdrawing the filled sleeve, but also draws out dirt and retains the mass of fibers in the sleeve, places covers over both open ends, and maintains the package thus enclosed by straps, holding the covers and the entire assembly in a protected bale.

An important object of the invention is to remove dust and fine dirt from a mass of air borne fibers and to cover them for protection when placed in a large package or bale.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a screen through which a vacuum is drawn; to provide a base mounted upon rollers on which to move a bale formed in a sleeve; to seal openings in the crevices of the baling apparatus; to provide openings to the outside from the interior of the apparatus; to provide doors at one end of the apparatus for removing a bale sleeve; to mount one end for straight line movement to and from a sleeve; to provide end covers for the sleeve; to apply straps to the bales and covers for holding them; and in general to provide vacuum apparatus as shown and described for producing a protected and clean bale.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the specification and will be apparent from the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of a vacuum baler in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a bale as produced by the apparatus of FIGURE 1 with one cover on the sleeve and the other spaced therefrom;

FIGURE 3 is an elevation of the removable end shown in FIGURE 1 with half of a double hinge attached thereto; and

FIGURE 4 is a top view of the doublehinge attached at one side of the removable end and to the side of the tubular shell.

Although the following disclosure offered for public dissemination is detailed to ensure adequacy and aid understanding, this is not intended to prejudice that purpose of a patent which is to cover each new inventive concept therein no matter how others may later disguise it by variations in form or additions or further improvements. The claims at the end hereof are intended as the chief aid toward this purpose; as it is these that meet the requirement of pointing out the parts, improvements or combinations in which the inventive concepts are found.

In this vacuum baler air borne fibers from a gin or other source of supply are drawn into one end of a sleeve, air and dirt are drawn therefrom through a screen at the other end, and the fibers are compacted by vacuum within the sleeve until it is full. In this structure are atmospheric outlets, specific sealing means, a door opened to discharge a filled sleeve, a roller mounted base for supporting a bale, and inwardly projection flanges, all cooperating 3,218,778 Patented Nov. 23, 1965 to produce a bale enclosed by a protecting sleeve or tube with ends applied thereto and held in shape and proper position by binding straps.

Referring now to the drawings, a tubular flange shell 10 has a large rectangular horizontal opening 12 and a base 14 upon which it is supported. An end plate 16 is fixedly supported by the base 14 at one end of the horizontal opening 12 and has an inlet 18 for air borne fibers or loose material from a cotton gin or some other supply.

At the opposite end of the opening 12 is a removable end plate or door 20 abutting a base ledge 22 at the bottom of the shell 10 and outward flanges at the top and sides. With shell 10 the door 20 defines an enclosed chamber. Within the base 14, and mounted below the top of the ledge 22 are rollers 24. A bottom face support 26 is loosely mounted on the tops of the rollers 24 to pass over the top of the ledge 22 without engaging it, when the end plate 20 is removed.

In the base 14 below the bottom support 26 are openings 28 leading to an air exhaust means such as a blower (not shown) for creating vacuum or suction. To promote the free passage of air to the suction openings, both end plates 16 and 20 are formed with intersecting horizontal and vertical inner surface grooves 30 and 32. The vertical grooves extend below the bottom support 26 and thence communicate with said openings 28.

Each of the end plates 16 and 20 is formed with an inward flange 34 extending all around it, yet spaced a short distance above the top of the bottom support 26 and from the sides and top of the shell opening 12. Thus, an open sleeve 36 of flexible material, such as cardboard or plastic, may be inserted in the shell 10 between the shell walls and the flanges 34 of both end plates.

An air inlet 38 is provided in each end plate from the outside, into the flange 34 thereof with an extension 40 to the outside of the flange near the base thereof. An air sealing strip 42 of rubber or similar material, surrounds and forms a part of each of flanges 34. The two sides of the strip engage the flange 34 but the intermediate longitudinal central portion forms a passageway communicating with the extension 40. When there is suction on the outer side of the strip (within the vacuum chamber) and air pressure on the inside through inlets 38 and 40, the air pressure expands strip 42 against sleeve 36 to provide a fluid seal. This does not interfere with the withdrawal of a bale from the shell, for as soon as the vacuum is broken, the sleeve and flange move easily with respect to each other.

A flexible resilient gasket 48 surrounds the top and two sides of sleeve 36. Gasket 48 is secured at its edges to the shell 107 A space 46 is formed between the gasket 48 and the inside of the shell. The gasket prevents the entry of atmospheric air. To clamp gasket 48 against sleeve 36 is an air inlet opening 44 which forms communication between the atmospheric air outside and the space 46 within the gasket. Thus the difference in pressure between the inside and outside of the gasket expands the gasket. An air sealing strip 50 is applied at the edge of the end plate 16 where it meets the base 14 and shell 10. A sealing strip 52 is applied between the edges of the end plate 20 and the shell 10.

The various sealing means act to confine the suction at the interior of the shell 10'to the interior of the sleeve 36. The passages formed by grooves 32 and 30 lead from the ends of the sleeve. A wire screen 54 is interposed between the outlet end of the sleeve 36 and the grooves 30 and 32. Screen 54 rests against the inner ends of the end plates 16 and 20, within the flange 34. There is no material obstruction to the passage of dust or dirt laden air from within sleeve 36 into the suction openings 28. The outer marginal edge of this sieve or 3 screen 54 has a binder 56 to protect it and keep the edges from fraying.

The flanges 34 in both end plates serve to hold the sleeve 36 in place, to limit the escape of air to the ends thereof, and to provide space forthe caps or ends for the sleeve. The removal of end plate 20 must be limited first to a straight line movement at least equal to the length of flange 34.

To provide for a straight line movement of the end plate 20, the opposite sides of the shell have bearing pins 58 each secured in a boss 60 at each outer side of the shell about centrally thereof. Each of pins 58 project to a distance slightly greater than the length of the flange 34. The end plate 20 has perforated outwardly projecting cars 59 through which the pins project. At one side of end plate 20 are double hinges. Each hinge has one link 62 pivoted at one end to the shell 10, and another link 64 pivoted at one end to the side of the plate 20. The two other ends of the links having a common pivot 66. The two links are of a joint length (when in alignment) greater than the length of the plate flange 34 and slightly longer than the bearing pins 58.

In operation a sleeve 36 is inserted in the vacuum chamber and a vacuum employed. The fibers are drawn in through tube 18 to fill the sleeve. After a bale is formed in the shell by suction, air is admitted to the chamber. End plate 20 is moved straight out on the bearing pins 58 extending the hinge links 62, 64 until the end plate 20 and its flange 34 are free from the pins and may be swung, laterally onthe hinges. tially completed bale 70 (filled sleeve 36) can be removed from the shell and the flange 34 of the fixed end plate 16, ready for further packaging.

Each bale as delivered from the shell 10 upon the bottom support 26 is enclosed by the container sleeve 36 with the fiber ends tucked into the ends of the sleeve by the flanges 34. This produces a neat and compact package. To this open end sleeve 36 lids 72 are applied. Lids 72 have flanges 72a which fit within sleeve 36 in the space provided by the removal of flanges 34. The lids and package are commonly bound by metal straps in positions 74 as shown in FIGURE 2. Other forms of containers, or boxes, may be employed. For

example, the type of box wherein the end edges of each end of the sleeve and the corresponding sides of the lid are folded together in interlocking engagement while being closed is eminently suitable. Such a container may be used with or without strapping.

After removal of a bale, the apparatus may be easily returned to baling position by inserting a new sleeve 36 on platform 26. The movable end plate is swung on its hinges to line up with the pins 58 and moved into engagement with the open end of the shell 10. Suction is applied to the openings 28 which brings all of the seals into sealing engagement. The apparatus is ready for admitting material in the regular way through the air inlet 18.

With this construction, suction apparatus is provided for forming a complete and compact package within a protecting open sleeve, removing dirt and foreign matter by vacuum, tucking loose fibers within the ends of the protecting sleeve, ready for the application of protecting and closing ends, and for suitable binding means. Much dirt is removed from a complete bale or package, and the outside is protected by the complete cover and enclosure.

While a preferred construction is thus described in some detail, it should be regarded as an illustration or example rather than a restriction or limitation of the invention, as many changes can be made in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The substan- I claim:

1. A vacuum baler comprising a tubular shell open at both ends with a fixed plate and a movable plate at opposite ends, each plate having a flange extending inwardly and spaced from the inside of the shell a distance sufficient to receive the open end of a sleeve therebetween and to hold it thereon, an air borne fiber inlet through the fixed plate, an open screen within the flange on the movable plate, the latter plate having passages at the opposite side of the screen from the inside of the shell and suction means for drawing air in the passages, through the screen and from a sleeve outwardly from the shell.

2. A vacuum baler according to claim 1, in which the shell has a base with a bottom support for a bale in a sleeve, rollers mounted in said shell and movably supporting said base therein, said base being below said flanges and removable with a bale through the open end of the shell when the movable plate is removed.

3. A vacuum baler according to claim 1, in which each flange has an atmospheric opening through the plate and through the outer side of the flange near its attachment to the plate at the inside edge of a sleeve therein.

4. A vacuum baler according to claim 3, in which each end plate has a flexible sealing strip extending around the flange with its edges to engage the outer side of the flange and said opening leading to an intermediate longitudinal central portion drawn outwardly by suction to engage the inside edge of a shell inserted therein.

5. A vacuum baler according to claim 1, in which the shell has an atmospheric opening between its open ends, and a sealing strip secured at its edges to the shell and with the intermediate longitudinal portion in sealing contact with the outer side of a sleeve in the shell, the said opening leading to a space at the inside of the shell between it and the outside of the strip limited in its inward movement by the sleeve.

6. A vacuum baler according to claim 1, in which sealing strips are applied to each plate and the shell at the junction line of the outer edge of each plate with the exposed edge of each end of the shell.

7. A vacuum baler comprising a tubular shell open at both ends with a fixed plate at one end and a movable plate at the other, means for admitting air borne fibers through the fixed plate, suction means for withdrawing air from the shell when both plates are applied at the ends, a double link hinge to connect the movable plate to the shell, and means to insure a straight away movement of the said movable plate for a distance to and from the shell, before a swinging hinge movement.

8.v In a vacuum baler according to claim 7, in which the movable plate has a flange to extend inwardly into the shell, pins secured to the outsides of the shell and eyelet means on the movable plate to engage the pins, and the said double links having a joint length for moving the plate on said pins a distance greater than the length of the flange.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 704,728 7/ 1902 Wultze -90 X 773,875 11/1904 Lorillard 10090 X 1,003,114 9/1911 Kirchhoff 5324 2,488,395 11/1949 Goldberg 1009l 2,815,621 12/1957 Carter 5322 2,941,236 6/1960 Monroe et al 220-34 X 2,954,730 10/ 1960 Moser. 3,025,785 3/1962 Deems 100-90 3,119,512 1/1964 Foster 220-34 WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A VACUUM BALER COMPRISING A TUBULAR SHELL OPEN AT BOTH ENDS WITH A FIXED PLATE AND A MOVABLE PLATE AT OPPOSITE ENDS, EACH PLATE HAVING A FLANGE EXTENDING INWARDLY AND SPACED FROM THE INSIDE OF THE SHELL A DISTANCE SUFFICIENT TO RECEIVE THE OPEN END OF A SLEEVE THEREBETWEEN AND TO HOLD IT THEREON, AN AIR BORNE FIBER INLET THROUGH THE FIXED PLATE, AN OPEN SCREEN WITHIN THE FLANGE ON THE MOVABLE PLATE, THE LATTER PLATE HAVING PASSAGES AT THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE SCREEN FROM THE INSIDE OF THE SHELL AND SUCTION MEANS FOR DRAWING AIR IN THE PASSAGES, THROUGH THE SCREEN AND FROM A SLEEVE OUTWARDLY FROM THE SHELL. 